For Hospices, Hospitals and Palliative Care Organizations

Elevating Patient Outcomes and Supporting Your Team

As a hospice administrator, you are deeply committed to delivering the highest level of care to your patients while also supporting the well-being of your dedicated staff. Balancing these responsibilities—along with financial constraints and the need to grow your census—can feel overwhelming. However, integrating a holistic, patient-centered approach can make a transformative difference for your organization.

What Is Integrative Hospice Care?

Integrative hospice care combines conventional medical treatments with evidence-based complementary therapies, addressing not only the physical symptoms of patients but also their emotional, spiritual, and psychological well-being. This approach goes beyond symptom management—it focuses on enhancing the overall quality of life for both patients and their families during their most vulnerable moments.

Key integrative therapies may include:

• Mindfulness and guided imagery to alleviate anxiety and stress
• Acupuncture for managing pain and discomfort
• Meditative movement to support energy and physical strength
• Massage and aromatherapy to promote relaxation and reduce stress

By incorporating complementary therapies into your hospice model, you’re expanding your ability to provide more comprehensive care, distinguishing your organization in a competitive environment, and attracting families seeking holistic, compassionate care.

Why Is Integrative Hospice Care Important?

Integrative hospice care supports your mission of providing dignity, peace, and comfort at the end of life by:

• Improving patient outcomes: Studies show that patients receiving complementary therapies often experience less pain, anxiety, and depression, leading to a more peaceful and meaningful end-of-life experience.
• Supporting families: Family members feel more assured and satisfied when they see their loved ones receiving care that goes beyond conventional symptom management.
• Reducing staff burnout: Hospice teams face high levels of emotional strain, leading to burnout and compassion fatigue. Integrative therapies, like mindfulness and emotional support tools, provide your staff with the resources they need to manage stress, leading to improved job satisfaction and employee retention.

Positive Intelligence Leadership Coaching for Your Team

Leadership is at the heart of creating a supportive and sustainable hospice environment. As part of the Integrative Hospice Program, we provide Positive Intelligence coaching for your leadership team, helping them cultivate mental resilience, foster a positive culture, and lead with empathy and effectiveness. This powerful coaching method empowers leaders to better manage the emotional toll of hospice work, improve decision-making under pressure, and build stronger, more cohesive teams. The result is a more resilient organization—one where both patients, caregivers, and leaders all thrive.

Is Integrative Hospice Right for Our Organization?

As a hospice administrator, you must juggle the demands of providing excellent care, maintaining a healthy workforce, and managing financial realities. Adding an integrative component to your care model can help by:

• Cost-Effectiveness: While introducing additional therapies may seem like a financial challenge, integrative hospice care can reduce long-term costs. Improved patient satisfaction and outcomes may lead to fewer hospital readmissions and reduced reliance on costly medical interventions. Moreover, by investing in your staff’s well-being, you decrease turnover rates and recruitment expenses.
• Growing Your Census: Integrative care sets your hospice apart, making it more appealing to families who want a comprehensive and compassionate approach to end-of-life care. As word spreads about your integrative offerings and the resulting positive patient experiences, your hospice will naturally see an increase in referrals and census growth.
• Supporting Your Staff: Compassionate care extends beyond your patients to your team. Integrative hospice care includes tools and techniques designed to mitigate burnout and compassion fatigue, showing your staff that their well-being is a priority. This commitment fosters loyalty, boosts morale, and leads to improved retention.

A Smart, Sustainable Investment

By integrating holistic care into your model, you’re not only enhancing the patient experience but also building a resilient, supportive work environment for your staff. This approach leads to higher retention rates, greater patient satisfaction, and a stronger reputation for your hospice—helping you grow in a meaningful and sustainable way.

As a palliative care physician, I understand the complexities of caring for seriously ill patients, as well as the unique challenges faced by hospice teams. Together, we can elevate the care you provide and position your hospice as a leader in compassionate, integrative end-of-life care.

Let's discuss how integrative hospice care, combined with leadership coaching, can be tailored to meet the unique needs and goals of your organization.